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{{Short description|Japanese manga series}}
{{Redirect|Rurouni|the related word for "wandering samurai"|Rōnin}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox animanga/Header
| image        = Rurouni Kenshin 28.png
| caption      = 28th {{Transliteration|ja|[[tankōbon]]}} volume cover, featuring [[Himura Kenshin]] (front) and [[Kamiya Kaoru]] (back)
| ja_kanji     = るろうに剣心 -明治剣客浪漫譚-
| ja_romaji    = Rurōni Kenshin -Meiji Kenkaku Roman Tan-
| genre        = {{ubl|[[Adventure fiction|Adventure]]<ref>{{cite press release|title=Viz Media Announces New 3-in-1 Omnibus Editions of the Samurai Adventure Saga Rurouni Kenshin|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2016-12-12/viz-media-announces-new-3-in-1-omnibus-editions-of-the-samurai-adventure-saga-rurouni-kenshin/.109818|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|via=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=June 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161214041521/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2016-12-12/viz-media-announces-new-3-in-1-omnibus-editions-of-the-samurai-adventure-saga-rurouni-kenshin/.109818|archive-date=December 14, 2016|date=December 12, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>|[[Martial arts film|Martial arts]]<ref name="Viz-Official"/>|[[Romance comics|Romance]]<ref name="Viz-Official">{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/rurouni-kenshin|title=The Official Website for Rurouni Kenshin|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|access-date=October 28, 2017|archive-date=April 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419102533/https://www.viz.com/rurouni-kenshin|url-status=live}}</ref>}}<!-- Note: Use and cite reliable sources to identify genre/s, not personal interpretation. Please don't include more than three genres (per [[MOS:A&M]]). -->
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| type         = manga
| author       = [[Nobuhiro Watsuki]]
| publisher    = [[Shueisha]]
| publisher_en = {{English manga publisher
| NA  = [[Viz Media]]
}}
| demographic  = {{Transliteration|ja|[[Shōnen manga|Shōnen]]}}
| imprint      = [[Jump Comics]]
| magazine     = [[Weekly Shōnen Jump]]
| first        = April 12, 1994
| last         = September 21, 1999
| volumes      = 28
| volume_list  = List of Rurouni Kenshin chapters#Rurouni Kenshin
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Other
| title        = Manga
| content      = 
* ''[[Rurouni Kenshin: Restoration|Restoration]]'' (2012–13)
* ''[[Rurouni Kenshin: Master of Flame|Master of Flame]]'' (2014)
* ''[[Rurouni Kenshin: The Hokkaido Arc|The Hokkaido Arc]]'' (2017–present)
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Other
| title        = Anime series
| content      = 
* [[Rurouni Kenshin (1996 TV series)|First TV series]] (1996–98)
* [[Rurouni Kenshin (2023 TV series)|Second TV series]] (2023–present)
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Other
| title        = Anime film / [[Original video animation]]s
| content      = 
* ''[[Rurouni Kenshin: The Motion Picture|The Motion Picture]]'' (1997)
* ''[[Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal|Trust & Betrayal]]'' (1999)
* ''[[Rurouni Kenshin: Reflection|Reflection]]'' (2001–02)
* ''[[Rurouni Kenshin: New Kyoto Arc|New Kyoto Arc]]'' (2011–12)
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Other
| title        = Live-action films
| content      = 
* ''[[Rurouni Kenshin (film)|Rurouni Kenshin]]'' (2012)
* ''[[Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno|Kyoto Inferno]]'' (2014)
* ''[[Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends|The Legend Ends]]'' (2014)
* ''[[Rurouni Kenshin: The Final|The Final]]'' (2021)
* ''[[Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning|The Beginning]]'' (2021)
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer|portal=yes}}

{{Nihongo|'''''Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story'''''|るろうに剣心 -明治剣客浪漫譚-|Rurōni Kenshin -Meiji Kenkaku Roman Tan-||lead=yes}}{{Efn|"The Epic Tale of a Meiji Swordsman: The Wanderer, Kenshin". The word {{Nihongo||るろうに|Rurōni}} is the author's altered reading of the word {{Nihongo||流浪人|Ru[[rōnin]]}}, that means 'wanderer'.}} is a Japanese [[manga]] series written and illustrated by [[Nobuhiro Watsuki]]. The story begins in 1878, the 11th year of the [[Meiji era]] in Japan, and follows a former assassin of the [[Bakumatsu]], known as Hitokiri Battosai. After his work against the {{Transliteration|ja|[[bakufu]]}}, he becomes [[Himura Kenshin]], a wandering swordsman who protects the people of Japan with a vow never to take another life. Watsuki wrote the series based on his desire to make a [[Shōnen manga|{{Transliteration|ja|shōnen}} manga]] different from others being published at the time, with Kenshin being a former assassin and the story taking a more serious tone as it progressed.

The manga was serialized in [[Shueisha]]'s ''[[Weekly Shōnen Jump]]'' magazine from April 1994 to September 1999. The complete series originally consisted of 28 {{Transliteration|ja|[[tankōbon]]}} volumes, and was later republished in 22 {{Transliteration|ja|[[kanzenban]]}} volumes. It was adapted into an [[anime]] [[Rurouni Kenshin (1996 TV series)|television series]] by [[Studio Gallop]], [[Studio Deen]], and [[Aniplex|SPE Visual Works]], which aired from January 1996 to September 1998. In addition to an animated feature film, ''[[Rurouni Kenshin: The Motion Picture]]'', two series of [[original video animation]]s (OVAs) were also produced; ''[[Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal]],'' which adapted stories from the manga that were not featured in the anime, and ''[[Rurouni Kenshin: Reflection]],'' a sequel to the manga. In 2017, Watsuki began publishing a direct sequel, ''[[Rurouni Kenshin: The Hokkaido Arc]],'' in ''[[Jump Square]]''. A [[Rurouni Kenshin (2023 TV series)|second anime television series adaptation]] by [[Liden Films]] premiered in July 2023. In addition, other media based on the franchise has been produced, including a series of five [[live-action]] theatrical film adaptations, beginning with ''[[Rurouni Kenshin (film)|Rurouni Kenshin]]'' in 2012 and ending with ''[[Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning]]'' in 2021, and video games for the [[PlayStation]], [[PlayStation 2]], and [[PlayStation Portable]]. Several art and guidebooks have been published, and writer Kaoru Shizuka has written three official [[light novel]]s, which were published by Shueisha.

The manga, as well as the first light novel and guidebook, have received a complete North American release by [[Viz Media]]. The ''Rurouni Kenshin'' manga has over 72 million copies in circulation as of 2019, making it one of the [[List of best-selling manga|best-selling manga series]] of all time. The series has received praise from various publications for manga, anime, and other media, particularly for the characters' designs and historical setting.

==Plot ==
{{See also|List of Rurouni Kenshin characters{{!}}List of ''Rurouni Kenshin'' characters}}
The series takes place in 1878, eleven years after the beginning of the [[Meiji era]]. After participating in the [[Boshin War]] as the assassin {{Transliteration|ja|[[Four Hitokiri of the Bakumatsu|Hitokiri]] Battōsai}}, [[Himura Kenshin]] wanders the countryside of Japan, offering protection and aid to those in need as atonement for the murders he once committed. Having vowed to never kill again, he now wields a reverse-bladed [[katana]]. Upon arriving in [[Tokyo]], he meets a young woman named [[Kamiya Kaoru]], who is fighting a murderer who claims to be the {{Transliteration|ja|Hitokiri Battōsai}} and is tarnishing the name of the swordsmanship school that she teaches. Kenshin decides to help her and defeats the fake ''Battōsai''. After discovering that Kenshin is the true {{Transliteration|ja|Hitokiri Battōsai}}, Kaoru offers him a place to stay at her [[dojo]], noting that he is peace-loving and not cold-hearted, as his reputation had implied. Kenshin accepts and begins to form lifelong relationships with others, including [[Sagara Sanosuke]], a former member of the [[Sekihōtai|Sekihō Army]]; [[Myōjin Yahiko]], an orphan from a samurai family who also lives with Kaoru as her student; and doctor [[Takani Megumi]], who has become involved in the [[opium]] trade. However, he also deals with old and new enemies, including the former leader of the [[Oniwabanshū]], [[Shinomori Aoshi]].

After several months living in the dojo, Kenshin faces [[Saitō Hajime (Rurouni Kenshin)|Saitō Hajime]], a rival from Bakumatsu who is now a police officer. This challenge turns out to be a test to face his successor, [[Shishio Makoto]], who plans to conquer Japan by destroying the Meiji Government, starting with [[Kyoto]]. Feeling that Shishio's faction may attack his friends, Kenshin meets Shishio alone to defeat him. However, many of his friends, including a young Oniwabanshū named [[Makimachi Misao]], whom he meets during his travels, decide to help him in his fight. After his first meeting with him, Kenshin realizes that he must become stronger to defeat Shishio without becoming the cold assassin he was in the past and returns to the man who taught him [[kenjutsu]], [[Hiko Seijūrō]], to learn the school's final technique. Finally accepting the help of his friends, he defeats Shishio, who dies after exceeding the limits of his abnormal body condition, after which a reformed Shinomori stays in Kyoto with the surviving Oniwabanshū.

When Kenshin and his friends return to Tokyo, he finds [[Yukishiro Enishi]], who plans to take revenge. At this point, it is revealed that, during the Bakumatsu, Kenshin was to be married to [[Yukishiro Tomoe]], who sought to avenge the death of her first fiancé, whom he had assassinated, but instead they fell in love and he proposed to her. Because she was related to the Edo guards who sought to kill Kenshin, they realized her deception and captured her to use as bait. In the final fight against the group's leader, Kenshin accidentally killed Tomoe after she took a blow meant for him. Seeking revenge for the death of his sister, Enishi kidnaps Kaoru and Kenshin and his friends set out to rescue her. A final battle between Kenshin and Enishi ensues, with Kenshin emerging victorious. Misao brings Tomoe's diary to Enishi, who keeps it in a village to hide along with his missing father.

Four years later, Kenshin has married Kaoru and has a son named [[Himura Kenji]]. Now at peace with himself, Kenshin gives his reverse-blade sword to Yahiko as a [[Genpuku|ceremonial gift]].

== Production ==
=== One-shots ===
A prototype series titled ''Rurouni: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story'' appeared as a pair of separate short stories published in 1992 and 1993.<ref name="MeijiRomanceTwo"/><ref name="rurouni"/> The first story, published in December 1992 in the ''Weekly Shōnen Jump Winter Special'' issue of 1993, featured an earlier version of Kenshin stopping a crime lord from taking over the Kamiya family dojo. Watsuki described the first ''Rurouni'' story, echoing the "Megumi Arc," as a "pilot" for ''Rurouni Kenshin''. According to Watsuki, the final ''Rurouni Kenshin'' series was not composed entirely of his free will. Describing the creation of historical stories as "hard," Watsuki initially wanted to make his next series in a contemporary setting. An editor approached Watsuki and asked him to make a new historical story. With the historical concept, Watsuki intended to use the [[Bakumatsu]] period from ''[[Moeyo Ken]]'' (''Burn, O Sword'') with a story akin to ''[[Sanshiro Sugata]]''. Watsuki experimented with various titles, including ''Nishin'' (''Two-Hearts'') ''Kenshin'', ''Yorozuya'' (''Jack-of-All-Trades'') ''Kenshin'', and variations of "Rurouni" and "Kenshin" with different kanji in that order.<ref name="MeijiRomanceTwo">{{cite book|title=Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 3|year=2004|last=Watsuki|first=Nobuhiro|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|chapter=Rurouni: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story (2)|isbn=1-59116-356-0|url=https://archive.org/details/rurounikenshinme00wats_2}}</ref>

The second ''Rurouni'' story, published in April 1993 in the ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' 21–22 double issue of that year, featured Kenshin helping a wealthy girl named Raikōji Chizuru. Watsuki recalled experiencing difficulty when condensing "everything" into 31 pages for that story. He said that he "put all [his] soul into it," but sighs when looking at it from his perspective after the publication of the first ''Rurouni Kenshin'' volume. Watsuki said that the second ''Rurouni: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story'' received mediocre reviews and about 200 letters.<ref name="rurouni">{{cite book|title=Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 1|last=Watsuki|first=Nobuhiro|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|chapter=Rurouni: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story (1)|date=June 6, 2006|page=168|isbn=1-4215-0674-2}}</ref> He referred to it as a "side story."<ref name="MeijiRomanceTwo"/>

The design model for Hiko Seijuro, Kenshin's master, in ''Rurouni Kenshin'' is the character of the same name from his one-shot manga "Crescent Moon of the Warring States," but Watsuki also added some influences from Hiken Majin Hajerun in [[Takeshi Obata]]'s ''Arabian Lamp-Lamp''. At the time, Watsuki said that he was fascinated by images of "manliness" and that Hiko was one of the first characters to reflect this fascination.<ref name="Hikodev">Watsuki, Nobuhiro. "The Secret Life of Characters (32) Hiko Seijūrō," ''Rurouni Kenshin'' Volume 12. [[Viz Media]]. 92.</ref> Since Watsuki's debut work contained a tall, black-haired man in "showy" armor, he wanted to make a character "completely opposite" to the debut character; the new character ended up "coming out like a girl". According to Watsuki, he used "no real motif" when creating Kenshin and placed a cross-shaped scar on his face "not knowing what else to do". Like several characters, Kenshin was influenced by the Shinsengumi, with Kenshin being affected by [[Okita Sōji]] and [[Saitō Hajime]] in order to give him an air of mystery.<ref name="design">{{cite book|title=Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 1|year=2003|last=Watsuki|first=Nobuhiro|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|chapter=The Secret Life of Characters (1) Himura Kenshin|page=56|isbn=1-59116-220-3|author-link=Nobuhiro Watsuki}}</ref>

=== Publication and influences ===
[[File:KenshinI'mHome.jpg|thumb|left|The final scene of the Kyoto arc was influenced by the animated adaptation due to its focus on the wanderer Kenshin being accepted into Kaoru's dojo.]]
During his childhood, Watsuki used to practice kendo, which influenced the making of the series. Although Watsuki developed various one-shots before the official serialization of the series, while naming the characters, he based some of their names on places he used to live, such as Makimachi Misaos's "Makimachi" and Sanjō Tsubame, who are named after places in Niigata.<ref>{{cite book|title=Rurouni Kenshin Profiles|year=2005|last=Watsuki|first=Nobuhiro|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|chapter=Interview with Nobuhiro Watsuki|isbn=978-1-4215-0160-4}}</ref>

When the manga series started to be published in ''[[Weekly Shōnen Jump]]'', Watsuki had little hope in the development of the series. He planned to finish the story in approximately 30 chapters, ending with Kenshin's departure from Tokyo similarly to the one from volume 7. Kenshin's enemies would have been people from Kyoto who would send an assassin to kill Kenshin. When the Oniwabanshū were introduced during the serialization, Watsuki noted that the series could be longer as he had created various main characters. At that time, there was a survey, and the series had become very popular.<ref name="kadenint">{{cite book|title=Kenshin Kaden|year=1999|last=Watsuki|first=Nobuhiro|publisher=[[Shueisha]]|chapter=Interview with Nobuhiro Watsuki|isbn=4-08-782037-8}}</ref>

For its seventh volume, Watsuki's boss suggested to him that it was time to make a longer story arc, which resulted in the creation of the fights between Kenshin and Shishio Makoto. The arc was only meant to be serialized for one year, but it ended up being one year and a half long. This arc was also done to develop Kenshin's character, as he considered him not to have a weak point. Watsuki commented that his artistic skills were honed with this arc, as he could draw everything he wanted to. The last arc from the manga was meant to be much shorter, but it turned out to be a fairly long one as he could not present it simplistically. Watsuki originally made this arc prior to the series' start, having already thought about how Kenshin's scar would have been made.<ref name="kadenint"/> Because of the dark style of the Kyoto arc, Watsuki created the comical Mikimachi Misao in order to contrast Kenshin's serious side.<ref name="Misaodesign">[[Nobuhiro Watsuki|Watsuki, Nobuhiro]]. "The Secret Life of Characters (23) Makimachi Misao," ''Rurouni Kenshin'' Volume 8. [[Viz Media]]. 146.</ref>

Being fascinated by the [[Shinsengumi]], Watsuki designed the characters by basing their characteristics on those of the real Shinsengumi members and also using fictional representations of them and other historical characters from the Bakumatsu period of Japan.<ref name="Saitō"/><ref name="form">{{cite book|title=Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 2|last=Watsuki|first=Nobuhiro|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|chapter=The Secret Life of Characters (6) Sagara Sanosuke|year=2003|page=48|isbn=1-59116-249-1|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/rurounikenshinme00wats_1/page/48}}</ref> The historical characters were considered a hard task by Watsuki. Due to problems with the characterization of [[Sagara Sōzō]], Watsuki decided to illustrate [[Saitō Hajime (Rurouni Kenshin)|Saitō Hajime]] in his own style, avoiding the historical figure. He felt very good about Saitō's character, having noted that he fit very well in the manga.<ref name="kadenint"/> However, Watsuki mentioned that many Japanese fans of the Shinsengumi complained about the personality of Saitō, as he was made sadistic.<ref name="Saitō">{{cite book|title=Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 7|last=Watsuki|first=Nobuhiro|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|chapter=The Secret Life of Characters" (21) Saitō Hajime|year=2004|isbn=978-1-59116-357-2|url=https://archive.org/details/rurounikenshinvo00nobu_3}}</ref> Additionally, the final shot of Kenshin returning to Kaoru's dojo was inspired by the final shot of the ''Rurouni Kenshin'' anime's first opening theme, "Sobakasu", by [[Judy and Mary]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 18|year=2005|last=Watsuki|first=Nobuhiro|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|chapter=Free Talk I|page=63|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/rurounikenshinme00wats/page/63|isbn=978-1-5911-6876-8|author-link=Nobuhiro Watsuki}}</ref>

In the final arc of the manga, Watsuki wanted to make the five comrades in this storyline as "scum-like" as possible. But because he created villains with no ideals or beliefs, it was difficult to portray them as an enjoyable read.<ref name="Otowa">Watsuki, Nobuhiro. "The Secret Life of Characters (45) Otowa Hyōko," ''Rurouni Kenshin'' Volume 22. [[Viz Media]]. 178.</ref> The story took on a darker tone as most of the characters believed Kaoru was killed by [[Yukishiro Enishi]], which made Kenshin question his own way of living and escape to a village of wanderers. Watsuki did not enjoy the angst in Kenshin, so his friend [[Myōjin Yahiko]] took over as the series' protagonist until Kenshin recovered.<ref name="kadenint"/> Even though the plot for the "remembrance episodes" of Kenshin's past was already set before serialization started, which was three and a half years before her debut, Watsuki was filled with regrets about how he portrayed Yukishiro Tomoe for unspecified reasons.<ref>Watsuki, Nobuhiro. "The Secret Life of Characters (41) Yukishiro (Himura) Tomoe," ''Rurouni Kenshin'' Volume 21. [[Viz Media]]. 46.</ref> The final villains, the Sū-shin, had no personality models and were created simply to "fill out the numbers". As the story advanced towards Kenshin's final battle, Watsuki realized that the other characters would have no "glamour" and created the Sū-shin on the spot.<ref>Watsuki, Nobuhiro. "The Secret Life of Characters (51) Sū-shin (Four Stars), Sū-shin (Four Gods)," ''Rurouni Kenshin'' Volume 27. [[Viz Media]]. 96.</ref>

=== Ending ===
Watsuki also had ideas to create a "Hokkaido episode, a sequel," but wanted to start a new manga, so he ended ''Rurouni Kenshin'' with the last arc he made.<ref>{{cite book|title=Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 28|year=2006|last=Watsuki|first=Nobuhiro|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|chapter=Free Talk I|isbn=1-4215-0675-0}}</ref> Due to the dark nature of Kenshin's life, Watsuki ended the manga in the Jinchu arc, afraid that if he continued writing, the series would not fit the {{Transliteration|ja|shōnen}} manga demography.<ref name="ashitaro">{{cite web|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/pp/jumpsq/page/3|title=剣心の人生の終わらせ方が見えた|website=Natalie|access-date=December 8, 2022|archive-date=December 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208223551/https://natalie.mu/comic/pp/jumpsq/page/3|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2012, Watsuki revealed that when he clashed with the editorial staff at the end of the series, his editor, Hisashi Sasaki, understood his intentions, saw that he was at his physical limit, and backed him up. He said it was out of respect and appreciation for the readers that he ended the popular series while it was still popular.<ref>{{cite book|title=Rurouni Kenshin: Restoration, Volume 2|year=2014|last=Watsuki|first=Nobuhiro|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|page=207|isbn=978-1-4215-5570-6}}</ref> Nevertheless, Watsuki was happy with how he ended ''Rurouni Kenshin''. He felt it was a good place to end the narrative. In contrast, most series keep being pushed and pushed until they lose popularity and are cancelled. Watsuki was glad ''Rurouni Kenshin'' did not end like this.<ref name="WatsukiInterview">{{cite web|url=http://www.animeondvd.com/conitem.php?item=190|title=Anime Expo 2002: Friday Report|first=Andrew|last=Tei|publisher=Mania Entertainment|access-date=2008-05-08|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041215165012/http://www.animeondvd.com/conitem.php?item=190|archive-date=2004-12-15}}</ref>

For the series' ending, Watsuki conceived new designs with the potential for a sequel in the future. Initially, Watsuki had planned to make Kenshin's hair shorter before the end; however, he found this to be similar to the character [[Multi (To Heart)|Multi]] in ''[[To Heart]]''. Additionally, Himura Kenji was introduced in the finale as the son of Kenshin and Kaoru; even though the character was "[[cliché]]", Watsuki felt that Kenji had to appear.<ref>{{cite book|title=Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 28|page=154|year=2006|last=Watsuki|first=Nobuhiro|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|chapter=The Secret Life of Characters (54) Himura Kenji and the characters from Meiji 15|isbn=1-4215-0675-0|author-link=Nobuhiro Watsuki}}</ref> An elder Sanosuke was drafted by Watsuki to appear in the manga's finale, but this idea was scrapped. In the manga's final story arc, the design was used for Sanosuke's father, Higashidani Kamishimoemon.<ref>Watsuki, Nobuhiro. "The Secret Life of Characters (50) Higashidani Family," ''Rurouni Kenshin'' Volume 26. [[Viz Media]]. 132.</ref> The author added that he felt attachment towards Enishi and that he would someday like to use Enishi in a future work.<ref name="EnishiDesign">{{cite book|title=Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 28|year=2006|last=Watsuki|first=Nobuhiro|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|chapter=The Secret Life of Characters (53) Yukishiro Enishi|isbn=978-1-4215-0675-3}}</ref>

Another idea explored for a sequel was the handling of Yahiko as a teenager. Watsuki had redesigned his appearance. He wanted Yahiko to impress manga readers so that he could be the protagonist of a possible series sequel. He said this goal influenced his design of Yahiko with Kenshin's physical appearance as well as Sanosuke's personality. He added Sanosuke's [[kanji]] for {{Nihongo|"evil"|惡|aku}} to the back of his clothes and was pleased that various readers recognized it. Although he suggested he was not going to make a sequel, he said the main characters would be Yahiko, [[List of Rurouni Kenshin characters#Sanjō Tsubame|Sanjō Tsubame]], and [[List of Rurouni Kenshin characters#Tsukayama Yutarō|Tsukayama Yutarō]]. Watsuki thought about writing a story in which Yahiko and Tsubame would have a son, Myōjin Shin'ya, who would become a skilled swordsman.<ref name="Watsuki2006">{{cite book|title=Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 28|page=154|year=2006|last=Watsuki|first=Nobuhiro|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|chapter=The Secret Life of Characters (54) Himura Kenji and the characters from Meiji 15|isbn=1-4215-0675-0}}</ref>

== Themes ==
The series' main theme is responsibility, as seen through Kenshin's actions, as he wants to atone for all the people he killed during the Bakumatsu by aiding innocent people by wielding a non-lethal sword.<ref name="criticalsurver"/> Marco Olivier from the [[Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University]] said that the sakabatō symbolizes Kenshin's oath not to kill again, which has been found challenging by other warriors appearing in the series.<ref name="Olivier2007">{{cite journal|last=Olivier|first=Marco|year=2007|title=Nihilism in Japanese Anime|journal=South African Journal of Art History|volume=22|issue=3|page=66|url=http://repository.up.ac.za/upspace/bitstream/2263/10607/1/Olivier_Nihilism(2007).pdf|access-date=November 12, 2009|archive-date=September 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230919160930/https://repository.up.ac.za/bitstream/handle/2263/10607/Olivier_Nihilism(2007).pdf;jsessionid=FD1D9BB9768BBC3AE81A70BBAB1892FF?sequence=1|url-status=live}}</ref> This theme also encourages former drug dealer Takani Megumi to become a doctor upon learning of Kenshin's past and actions. Another theme is power, which is mostly seen by Sagara Sanosuke and Myojin Yahiko. However, like Megumi, these two characters are also influenced by the main character, as they wish to become stronger to assist Kenshin across the plot. Additionally, the series discourages revenge, as seen in the final arc when Yukishiro Enishi believes he succeeded in getting his revenge on Kenshin but starts having hallucinations of his late sister with a sad expression on her face.<ref name="criticalsurver">{{cite book|last=Burnham|first=Jef|editor1-last=Beaty|editor1-first=Bart H.|editor2-last=Weiner|editor2-first=Stephen|title=Critical Survey of Graphic Novels : Manga|date=2013|publisher=Salem Press|location=Ipswich, Mass.|isbn=9781587659553|pages=268–272|chapter=Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story}}</ref>  As an "outlet" for Watsuki's kendo emotions, Yahiko "knows a pain that hero-types like Himura Kenshin and Sagara Sanosuke can never know".<ref name="start">{{cite book|year=2003|title=Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 1|last=Watsuki|first=Nobuhiro|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|page=103|url=https://archive.org/details/rurounikenshinme00wats_1/page/103|isbn=1-59116-249-1}}</ref> As a result, Yahiko was made a stronger character little by little to relate to the demography. eventually giving him a stronger characterization during the Kyoto arc, which surprised his readers.<ref name="Henyaprofile">[[Nobuhiro Watsuki|Watsuki, Nobuhiro]]. "The Secret Life of Characters (36) Hariwa Henya," ''Rurouni Kenshin'' Volume 15. [[Viz Media]]. 66.</ref>

When questioned about the series' theme being Kenshin's self-redemption, Watsuki mentioned that when he was young, he used to read [[Shōjo manga|{{Transliteration|ja|shōjo}} manga]] and that it influenced his writing of ''Rurouni Kenshin''. He added that he wanted to make the story different from other comics as he considers the main character, Kenshin, neither a good nor evil character. Since volume 7, Watsuki mentioned the series took on a more adult tone due to the various conflicts in the story, but commented it was influenced by the {{Transliteration|ja|shōjo}} manga he read. Through the series' development, Watsuki was deciding if [[Kamiya Kaoru]]'s character was going to die before the end. However, he later decided to keep Kaoru alive as he came to the conclusion that he wanted a happy ending and that the manga was aimed at young readers.<ref name="kadenint"/> In ''The Oxford Handbook of American Folklore and Folklife Studies'', Kenshin is regarded as a "far cry" from American superheroes due to his androgynous look and self-deprecating personality. However, the character is said to be relatable to the Eastern audience through Kenshin's quest for redemption, which is called the main theme of the manga. The manga is further noted to have a balance between individualism and community.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Oxford Handbook of American Folklore and Folklife Studies
|author=Bronner, Simon J.|year=2019|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|page=|chapter=Free Talk|isbn=978-0190840617}}</ref>

Watsuki said he was an "infatuated" type of person rather than a "passionate" kind of person; therefore, ''Rurouni Kenshin'' is a "Meiji Swordsman Story" as opposed to a "Meiji Love Story".<ref>{{cite book|title=Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 27|last=Watsuki|first=Nobuhiro|year=2006|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|page=168|chapter=Free Talk|isbn=1-4215-0674-2}}</ref> According to the book ''Bringing Forth a World: Engaged Pedagogy in the Japanese University'', the manga reflects the confusion of Japanese society after the big economy disenchantment in the early 1990s. It confronts visualizations of Japanese education in a manner that contrasts school books, especially because of the series' young demography.<ref>{{cite book|title=Bringing Forth a World: Engaged Pedagogy in the Japanese University|author1=Kennedy, David|author2=Bradley, Joff|year=2019|publisher=[[Brill Publishers|Brill]]|page=109|isbn=978-9004421776}}</ref> Since the manga focuses on realism but is aimed at young readers, the series is notable for changing the portrayals of samurais in order to create a more optimistic take in comparison to real-life events. The unique take on Kenshin's handling gave the manga the concept of "neo shonen" due to how different it was from previous ''Weekly Shonen Jump'' series.<ref>{{cite book|title=Cultura manga|author=Estrada, Oriol|year=2021|publisher=Ma Non Troppo|pages=166–167|chapter=Free Talk|asin=B093XRSPBC}}</ref>

== Media ==
=== Manga ===
{{Main|List of Rurouni Kenshin chapters{{!}}List of ''Rurouni Kenshin'' chapters}}
Written and illustrated by [[Nobuhiro Watsuki]], ''Rurouni Kenshin'' was serialized in [[Shueisha]]'s [[Shōnen manga|{{Transliteration|ja|shōnen}} manga]] magazine ''[[Weekly Shōnen Jump]]'' from April 12, 1994,{{efn|It debuted in the magazine's 19th issue of 1994 ([[cover date]] April 25),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://order.mandarake.co.jp/order/detailPage/item?itemCode=1121536038|publisher=[[Mandarake|Mandarake Inc.]]|access-date=November 30, 2019|script-title=ja:週刊少年ジャンプ 1994年(平成6年)19 表紙=和月伸宏「るろうに剣心」|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191130191304/https://order.mandarake.co.jp/order/detailPage/item?itemCode=1121536038|archive-date=November 30, 2019|language=ja|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:週刊少年ジャンプ1994年19|url=https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M543599|website=Media Arts Database|publisher=[[Agency for Cultural Affairs]]|access-date=December 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204074049/https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M543599|archive-date=December 4, 2021|language=ja|url-status=live}}</ref> released on April 12 of that same year.<ref>{{cite magazine|script-title=ja:『るろうに剣心』25周年記念展のキービジュアルが公開！ 見どころや各種チケット情報もチェック|url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/202001/04189906.html|magazine=[[Famitsu]]|access-date=September 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230922235604/https://www.famitsu.com/news/202001/04189906.html|archive-date=September 22, 2023|language=ja|date=January 4, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>}} to September 21, 1999.{{efn|It finished in the magazine's 43rd issue of 1999 ([[cover date]] October 4),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://nlab.itmedia.co.jp/nl/articles/1411/09/news008.html|script-title=ja:【「ヒカルの碁」「るろ剣」「封神演義」「I"ｓ」――「NARUTO」が始まった1999年の「週刊少年ジャンプ」 デジタル版が無料配信！|date=November 9, 2014|website=ITmedia|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628135512/https://nlab.itmedia.co.jp/nl/articles/1411/09/news008.html|archive-date=June 28, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://order.mandarake.co.jp/order/detailPage/item?itemCode=1104310375|publisher=[[Mandarake|Mandarake Inc.]]|access-date=November 30, 2019|script-title=ja:週刊少年ジャンプ 1999年(平成11年)43 表紙=岸本斉史「NARUTO」|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191130192333/https://order.mandarake.co.jp/order/detailPage/item?itemCode=1104310375|archive-date=November 30, 2019|language=ja|url-status=live}}</ref> released on September 21 of the same year; ''[[Naruto]]''{{'}}s debut issue.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.music-lounge.jp/v2/articl/news/detail/?articl=2015/02/24-12:58:00_04c8149e0b9a637bac2820c66c5e503f|script-title=ja:【イベント】 「週刊少年ジャンプ」読者招待制音楽イベント「NARUTO THE LIVE vol.0」、4月11日(土)に東京国際フォーラムにて開催！出演アーティスト第１弾を発表！|date=February 24, 2015|website=Music Lounge|language=ja|trans-title=【Event】 "Weekly Shonen Jump" Readers' invitation music event "NARUTO THE LIVE vol.0" will be held at the Tokyo International Forum on Saturday, April 11! Announced the first stage of casting artists!|archive-url=https://archive.today/20170620060453/http://www.music-lounge.jp/v2/articl/news/detail/?articl=2015/02/24-12:58:00_04c8149e0b9a637bac2820c66c5e503f|archive-date=June 20, 2017}}</ref>}} The 255 individual chapters were collected and published in 28 {{Transliteration|ja|[[tankōbon]]}} volumes by [[Shueisha]], with the first volume released on September 9, 1994, and the last on November 4, 1999.<ref name="one">{{cite web|url=http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=4-08-871499-7&mode=1|script-title=ja:るろうに剣心 1|trans-title=Rurouni Kenshin 1|publisher=[[Shueisha]]|language=ja|access-date=February 29, 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307142449/http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=4-08-871499-7&mode=1|archive-date=March 7, 2008}}</ref><ref name="twoeight">{{cite web|url=http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=4-08-872782-7&mode=1|script-title=ja:るろうに剣心 28|trans-title=Rurouni Kenshin 28|publisher=Shueisha|language=ja|access-date=February 29, 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307143614/http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=4-08-872782-7&mode=1|archive-date=March 7, 2008}}</ref> They re-released the series in a 22-volume {{Transliteration|ja|[[kanzenban]]}} edition between July 4, 2006, and May 2, 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://books.shueisha.co.jp/items/contents.html?isbn=4-08-874150-1|script-title=ja:るろうに剣心 完全版 1|trans-title=Rurouni Kenshin Kanzenban 1|publisher=Shueisha|language=ja|access-date=September 7, 2021|archive-date=September 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230919160931/http://www.shueisha.co.jp/books/items/contents.html?isbn=4-08-874150-1|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="lastkan">{{cite web|url=http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=978-4-08-874171-0&mode=1|script-title=ja:るろうに剣心 完全版 22|trans-title=Rurouni Kenshin Kanzenban 22|publisher=Shueisha|language=ja|access-date=March 2, 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307144700/http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=978-4-08-874171-0&mode=1|archive-date=March 7, 2008}}</ref> Shueisha published a 14-volume {{Transliteration|ja|[[bunkoban]]}} edition between January 18 and July 18, 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://books.shueisha.co.jp/items/contents.html?isbn=978-4-08-619314-6|script-title=ja:るろうに剣心 1 ―明治剣客浪漫譚―|trans-title=Rurouni Kenshin 1 Meiji Kenkaku Roman Tan|publisher=Shueisha|language=ja|access-date=September 7, 2021|archive-date=September 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210908020209/http://books.shueisha.co.jp/items/contents.html?isbn=978-4-08-619314-6|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://books.shueisha.co.jp/items/contents.html?isbn=978-4-08-619327-6|script-title=ja:るろうに剣心 14 ―明治剣客浪漫譚―|trans-title=Rurouni Kenshin 14 Meiji Kenkaku Roman Tan|publisher=Shueisha|language=ja|access-date=September 7, 2021|archive-date=September 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230919160930/http://www.shueisha.co.jp/books/items/contents.html?isbn=978-4-08-619327-6|url-status=live}}</ref> A single-chapter follow-up to the series that follows the character of [[Yahiko Myōjin]], {{Nihongo|"Yahiko no Sakabato"|弥彦の逆刃刀||"Yahiko's Sakabatō"}}, was originally published in ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' in 2000 after the conclusion of the series. Left out of the original volumes, it was added as an extra to the final {{Transliteration|ja|kanzenban}} release.<ref name="lastkan"/>

In December 2011, Shueisha announced Watsuki would be putting his series, ''[[Embalming (manga)|Embalming -The Another Tale of Frankenstein-]]'', on hold to begin a "reboot" of ''Rurouni Kenshin'', called ''[[Rurouni Kenshin: Restoration]]'', as a tie-in to the [[live-action]] film. The series began in the June 2012 issue of ''[[Jump Square]]'', which was released on May 2, 2012,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-12-26/rurouni-kenshin-manga-series-to-return-in-japan-in-may|title=Rurouni Kenshin Manga Series to Return in Japan in May|work=[[Anime News Network]]|date=December 26, 2011|access-date=December 26, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108022230/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-12-26/rurouni-kenshin-manga-series-to-return-in-japan-in-may|archive-date=January 8, 2012}}</ref> and ended in the July 2013 issue on June 4, 2013.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-05-31/rurouni-kenshin/restoration-manga-to-end-on-tuesday|title=Rurouni Kenshin Restoration Manga to End|work=[[Anime News Network]]|date=May 31, 2013|access-date=May 31, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607043244/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-05-31/rurouni-kenshin/restoration-manga-to-end-on-tuesday|archive-date=June 7, 2013}}</ref> The reboot depicts the battles that were featured in the first live-action film. Another special, titled "Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story: Chapter 0", was published in ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' in August 2012 as a prologue to ''Restoration'' and included in its first volume.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-04-24/rurouni-kenshin-manga-chapter-0-to-run-in-shonen-jump|title=Rurouni Kenshin Manga's "Chapter 0" to Run in Shonen Jump|date=April 24, 2012|work=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=June 5, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606205438/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-04-24/rurouni-kenshin-manga-chapter-0-to-run-in-shonen-jump|archive-date=June 6, 2012}}</ref> In 2014, Watsuki wrote a two-chapter [[Spin-off (media)|spin-off]] titled ''[[Rurouni Kenshin: Master of Flame]]'' for ''Jump SQ.'', which tells how Shishio met Yumi and formed the Juppongatana.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-01-06/new-rurouni-kenshin-manga-spinoff-to-be-about-enemy-characters|title=New Rurouni Kenshin Manga Spinoff to Be About Enemy Characters|date=January 6, 2014|work=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=January 7, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108004042/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-01-06/new-rurouni-kenshin-manga-spinoff-to-be-about-enemy-characters|archive-date=January 8, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Uramaku">{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-07-07/viz-shonen-jump-to-publish-rurouni-kenshin-shishio-spinoff/.76416|title=Viz's Shonen Jump to Publish Rurouni Kenshin's Shishio Spinoff|date=July 7, 2014|work=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=July 7, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713125451/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-07-07/viz-shonen-jump-to-publish-rurouni-kenshin-shishio-spinoff/.76416|archive-date=July 13, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://natalie.mu/comic/news/127731|script-title=ja:「るろ剣」志々雄一派の読切と小説が1冊に|date=October 3, 2014|language=ja|publisher=[[Natalie (website)|Natalie]]|access-date=November 19, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129173923/http://natalie.mu/comic/news/127731|archive-date=November 29, 2014}}</ref>

Watsuki and his wife, Kaworu Kurosaki, collaborated on a two-chapter spin-off titled ''Rurouni Kenshin Side Story: The Ex-Con Ashitaro'' for the ninth anniversary of ''Jump SQ.'' in 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-11-05/rurouni-kenshin-2-chapter-spinoff-manga-features-new-main-character/.108437#gallery_top|title=Rurouni Kenshin 2-Chapter Spinoff Manga Features New Main Character|date=November 5, 2016|work=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=November 5, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161106161122/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-11-05/rurouni-kenshin-2-chapter-spinoff-manga-features-new-main-character/.108437#gallery_top|archive-date=November 6, 2016}}</ref> It acts as a prologue to ''[[Rurouni Kenshin: The Hokkaido Arc]]'', which began in September 2017 as a sequel to the original manga series. In 2021, Watsuki created the manga {{Nihongo|"Sakabatō Shogeki"|逆刃刀 初撃||"Reverse-Blade Katana: First Bout"}} that was exclusively shown at an exhibition celebrating the 25th anniversary of ''Rurouni Kenshin''. It serves as an epilogue to chapter 81 of the original manga and shows the first time Kenshin used his sakabatō.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-01-04/rurouni-kenshin-25th-anniversary-exhibit-previews-exclusive-new-manga-draft/.168103|title=Rurouni Kenshin 25th Anniversary Exhibit Previews Exclusive New Manga Draft|date=January 4, 2021|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=June 8, 2021|archive-date=September 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230919160929/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-01-04/rurouni-kenshin-25th-anniversary-exhibit-previews-exclusive-new-manga-draft/.168103|url-status=live}}</ref>

''Rurouni Kenshin'' was licensed for an English-language release in North America by [[Viz Media]]. The first volume of the series was released on October 7, 2003.<ref name="first">{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2003-07-24/viz-makes-hikaru-no-go-and-kenshin-official|title=Viz makes Hikaru no Go and Kenshin official|work=[[Anime News Network]]|date=July 24, 2003|access-date=June 20, 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123083829/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2003-07-24/viz-makes-hikaru-no-go-and-kenshin-official|archive-date=January 23, 2009}}</ref> Although the first volumes were published on an irregular basis, since volume 7, Viz has established a monthly basis due to good sales and consumer demands.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://anime.about.com/od/animenews/a/aa100304.htm|title=Rurouni Kenshin Goes Monthly|publisher=[[About.com]]|date=October 3, 2004|author=Luther, Katerine|access-date=June 26, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804132704/http://anime.about.com/od/animenews/a/aa100304.htm|archive-date=August 4, 2009}}</ref> Therefore, the following volumes were published until July 5, 2006, when the final volume was released.<ref name="usa">{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2006-06-14/kenshin-manga-bids-goodbye|title=Kenshin Manga Bids Goodbye|work=[[Anime News Network]]|date=June 14, 2006|access-date=June 20, 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607225300/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2006-06-14/kenshin-manga-bids-goodbye|archive-date=June 7, 2008}}</ref> "Yahiko no Sakabatō" was also published in English in ''[[Shonen Jump (magazine)|Shonen Jump]]'' on August 1, 2006.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Viz Media Announces the Release of First Rurouni Kenshin Fiction Novel|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2006-06-14/viz-media-announces-the-release-of-first-rurouni-kenshin-fiction-novel|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|via=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=March 11, 2023|date=June 14, 2006|archive-date=September 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230919160935/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2006-06-14/viz-media-announces-the-release-of-first-rurouni-kenshin-fiction-novel|url-status=live}}</ref> Between January 29, 2008, and March 16, 2010, Viz re-released the manga in a nine-volume omnibus format called "Viz Big Edition", which collects three volumes in one.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/read/manga/rurouni-kenshin-vizbig-edition-volume-1/product/1539|title=Rurouni Kenshin (VIZBIG Edition), Vol. 1|publisher=Viz Media|access-date=September 7, 2021}}</ref><ref name="lastbig">{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/read/manga/rurouni-kenshin-vizbig-edition-volume-9/product/1547|title=Rurouni Kenshin (VIZBIG Edition), Vol. 9|publisher=Viz Media|access-date=September 7, 2021}}</ref> The ninth and final volume includes "Yahiko no Sakabato" and "Cherry Blossoms in Spring".<ref name="lastbig"/> They released a similar "3-in-1 Edition" across nine volumes between January 3, 2017, and January 1, 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/read/manga/rurouni-kenshin-3-in-1-edition-volume-1/product/5017|title=Rurouni Kenshin (3-in-1 Edition), Vol. 1|publisher=Viz Media|access-date=September 7, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/read/manga/rurouni-kenshin-3-in-1-edition-volume-9/product/5783|title=Rurouni Kenshin (4-in-1 Edition), Vol. 9|publisher=Viz Media|access-date=September 7, 2021}}</ref> Viz uses the actual ordering of [[Japanese name]]s, with the family name or surname before the given name, within the series to reduce confusion and because ''Rurouni Kenshin'' is a historical series.<ref>{{cite book|title=Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 1|last=Watsuki|first=Nobuhiro|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|chapter=Glossary of the Restoration|page=200|year=2003|isbn=978-1-59116-220-9}}</ref>

=== Anime series ===
{{Main|Rurouni Kenshin (1996 TV series){{!}}''Rurouni Kenshin'' (1996 TV series)|Rurouni Kenshin (2023 TV series){{!}}''Rurouni Kenshin'' (2023 TV series)}}
An [[Rurouni Kenshin (1996 TV series)|anime television series]] adaptation of ''Rurouni Kenshin'',  produced by [[Aniplex|SPE Visual Works]] and [[Fuji TV]], animated by [[Studio Gallop]] (episodes 1–66) and [[Studio Deen]] (episodes 67–95),<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:ぎゃろっぷ作品履歴1999|url=http://www.anime-gallop.co.jp/works-3.htm|publisher=[[Gallop (studio)|Gallop]]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131104220740/http://www.anime-gallop.co.jp/works-3.htm|archive-date=November 4, 2013|language=ja|access-date=February 2, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Movie/TV/Kenshin/storyd/index.html|title=Episode list|publisher=[[Sony]]|language=ja|access-date=May 23, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090918103743/http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Movie/TV/Kenshin/storyd/index.html|archive-date=September 18, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Movie/TV/Kenshin/staff.html|title=Staff|publisher=[[Sony]]|language=ja|access-date=May 23, 2009|archive-url=https://archive.today/20090131114939/http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Movie/TV/Kenshin/staff.html|archive-date=2009-01-31|url-status=dead}}</ref> and directed by [[Kazuhiro Furuhashi]], was broadcast on Fuji TV from January 1996 to September 1998.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:るろうに剣心 -明治剣客浪漫譚-|url=https://akiba-souken.com/anime/10520/|website=Akiba Souken|publisher=[[Kakaku.com]]|access-date=June 2, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210602201534/https://akiba-souken.com/anime/10520/|archive-date=June 2, 2021|language=ja|url-status=live}}</ref>

A [[Rurouni Kenshin (2023 TV series)|second anime television series]] adaptation by [[Liden Films]] was announced at [[Jump Festa|Jump Festa '22]] in December 2021.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hodgkins|first=Crystalyn|title=Rurouni Kenshin Gets New TV Anime by Liden Films|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-12-19/rurouni-kenshin-gets-new-tv-anime-by-liden-films/.180766|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=December 19, 2021|date=December 19, 2021|archive-date=December 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211219051030/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-12-19/rurouni-kenshin-gets-new-tv-anime-by-liden-films/.180766|url-status=live}}</ref> The series' first season was broadcast from July to December 2023 on Fuji TV's [[Noitamina]] programming block.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mateo|first=Alex|title=New Rurouni Kenshin TV Anime's Visual Reveals July Premiere|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-03-22/new-rurouni-kenshin-tv-anime-visual-reveals-july-premiere/.196271|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=March 22, 2023|date=March 22, 2023|archive-date=March 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322181754/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-03-22/new-rurouni-kenshin-tv-anime-visual-reveals-july-premiere/.196271|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:るろうに剣心：最終話「明治十一年五月十四日」 大久保利通から暗殺依頼 京都で暗躍する"剣心の後継者だった男"|url=https://mantan-web.jp/article/20231213dog00m200025000c.html|website=Mantan Web|access-date=December 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231214110209/https://mantan-web.jp/article/20231213dog00m200025000c.html|archive-date=December 14, 2023|language=ja|date=December 14, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref> A second season, subtitled ''Kyoto Disturbance'', premiered in October 2024.<ref>{{cite web|last=Pineda|first=Rafael|title=New Rurouni Kenshin Anime's Season 2 Video Reveals More Cast, Opening Song, October 3 Premiere|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-09-16/new-rurouni-kenshin-anime-season-2-video-reveals-more-cast-opening-song-october-3-premiere/.215595|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=September 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240916082004/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-09-16/new-rurouni-kenshin-anime-season-2-video-reveals-more-cast-opening-song-october-3-premiere/.215595|archive-date=September 16, 2024|date=September 16, 2024|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Animated film ====
{{Main|Rurouni Kenshin: The Motion Picture}}
An anime film with an original story, titled {{Nihongo|''[[Rurouni Kenshin: The Motion Picture]]''|るろうに剣心 -明治剣客浪漫譚- 維新志士への鎮魂歌|''Rurouni Kenshin: Ishin Shishi e no Chinkonka''| {{lit}} ''Rurouni Kenshin: Requiem for Isshin Patriots''}}, also known as ''Rurouni Kenshin: Requiem for Patriots'', originally released in North America as ''Samurai X: The Motion Picture'', premiered in December 1997.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:るろうに剣心 ―明治剣客浪漫譚― 維新志士への鎮魂歌|url=https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/C410867|website=Media Arts Database|publisher=[[Agency for Cultural Affairs]]|access-date=June 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602200549/https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/C410867|archive-date=June 2, 2021|language=ja|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Original video animations ====
{{main|Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal|Rurouni Kenshin: Reflection|Rurouni Kenshin: New Kyoto Arc}}
A 4-episode [[original video animation]] (OVA), titled ''[[Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal]]'', which served as a prequel to the first anime television series, was released in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:るろうに剣心|url=http://www.deen.co.jp/kenshin/index.html|publisher=[[Studio Deen]]|access-date=June 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990417191113/http://www.deen.co.jp/kenshin/index.html|archive-date=April 17, 1999|language=ja}}</ref>

A two-episode OVA titled ''[[Rurouni Kenshin: Reflection]]'', which served as a sequel to the first anime television series, was released from 2001 to 2002.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:オリジナル･ビデオ･アニメーション『るろうに剣心－明治剣客浪漫譚－』星霜編 ～下巻～|url=https://www.sonymusicshop.jp/m/item/itemShw.php?site=S&cd=SVWB000001308|website=[[Sony Music Entertainment Japan|Sony Music Shop]]|access-date=June 2, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210602211616/https://www.sonymusicshop.jp/m/item/itemShw.php?site=S&cd=SVWV000001307|archive-date=June 2, 2021|language=ja|url-status=live| title=SonyMusicShop}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:オリジナル･ビデオ･アニメーション『るろうに剣心－明治剣客浪漫譚－』星霜編 ～上巻～|url=https://www.sonymusicshop.jp/m/item/itemShw.php?site=S&cd=SVWV000001307|website=[[Sony Music Entertainment Japan|Sony Music Shop]]|access-date=June 2, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210602212232/https://www.sonymusicshop.jp/m/item/itemShw.php?site=S&cd=SVWB000001308|archive-date=June 2, 2021|language=ja|url-status=live|title =SonyMusicShop}}</ref>

A two-episode OVA, ''[[Rurouni Kenshin: New Kyoto Arc]]'', which remade the series' Kyoto arc, was released from 2011 to 2012.<ref name="part 1">{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-11-28/new-rurouni-kenshin-anime-part-i-promo-video-streamed|title=New Rurouni Kenshin Anime's Part I Promo Video Streamed|work=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=November 28, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111129175227/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-11-28/new-rurouni-kenshin-anime-part-i-promo-video-streamed|archive-date=November 29, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=New Rurouni Kenshin Anime's Part II Promo Streamed|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-06-05/new-rurouni-kenshin-anime-part-ii-promo-streamed|work=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=June 5, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606194538/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-06-05/new-rurouni-kenshin-anime-part-ii-promo-streamed|archive-date=June 6, 2012}}</ref>

=== Live-action films ===
{{Main|Rurouni Kenshin (film){{!}}''Rurouni Kenshin'' (film)|Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno|Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends|Rurouni Kenshin: The Final|Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning}}
Five [[live-action]] films have been released theatrically. The live-action film adaptation of ''Rurouni Kenshin'' was announced on June 28, 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tokyohive.com/2011/06/rurouni-kenshin-to-get-film-adaptation-starring-sato-takeru/|title="Rurouni Kenshin" to get film adaptation starring Sato Takeru!|publisher=Tokyohive|access-date=June 28, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110630173935/http://www.tokyohive.com/2011/06/rurouni-kenshin-to-get-film-adaptation-starring-sato-takeru/|archive-date=June 30, 2011}}</ref> Produced by [[Warner Bros.]], with actual film production done by Studio Swan, the films were directed by [[Keishi Ōtomo]] and starred [[Takeru Satoh]] (of ''[[Kamen Rider Den-O]]'' fame) as Kenshin, [[Munetaka Aoki]] as Sanosuke Sagara, and [[Emi Takei]] as Kaoru.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-07-25/emi-takei-to-play-live-action-rurouni-kenshin-kaoru|title=Emi Takei to Play Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin's Kaoru|work=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=July 25, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121205138/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-07-25/emi-takei-to-play-live-action-rurouni-kenshin-kaoru|archive-date=January 21, 2012}}</ref> The first film, titled ''[[Rurouni Kenshin (film)|Rurouni Kenshin]]'', was released on August 25, 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-11-30/live-action-rurouni-kenshin-film-image-published|title=Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin Film Image Published|work=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=November 30, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111202013622/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-11-30/live-action-rurouni-kenshin-film-image-published|archive-date=December 2, 2011}}</ref> In August 2013, it was announced that two sequels were being filmed simultaneously for release in 2014. ''[[Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno]]'' and ''[[Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends]]'' adapt the Kyoto arc of the manga.<ref name="sequels">{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-06-29/rurouni-kenshin-gets-2-new-live-action-kyoto-arc-films|title=Rurouni Kenshin Gets 2 New Live-Action Kyoto Arc Films|work=[[Anime News Network]]|date=2013-06-29|access-date=2013-12-22|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215152122/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-06-29/rurouni-kenshin-gets-2-new-live-action-kyoto-arc-films|archive-date=2013-12-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-12-31/new-live-action-rurouni-kenshin-sequel-image-previews-juppongatana|title=New Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin Sequel Image Previews Juppongatana|work=[[Anime News Network]]|date=January 1, 2014|access-date=January 1, 2020|archive-date=January 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101091250/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-12-31/new-live-action-rurouni-kenshin-sequel-image-previews-juppongatana|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-01-08/new-live-action-rurouni-kenshin-sequels-photos-feature-kenshin-vs-sojiro|title=New Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin Sequels' Photos Feature Kenshin vs. Sōjirō|work=[[Anime News Network]]|date=January 8, 2014|access-date=January 8, 2020|archive-date=October 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024225209/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-01-08/new-live-action-rurouni-kenshin-sequels-photos-feature-kenshin-vs-sojiro|url-status=live}}</ref> In April 2019, it was announced that two new live-action films would adapt the Remembrance/Tenchu and Jinchu arcs;<ref>{{cite web|last=Mateo|first=Alex|title=Rurouni Kenshin Gets 'Final' 2 Live-Action Films in Summer 2020|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-04-11/rurouni-kenshin-gets-final-2-live-action-films-in-summer-2020/.145614|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=April 12, 2019|date=April 11, 2019|archive-date=April 12, 2019|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190412002411/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-04-11/rurouni-kenshin-gets-final-2-live-action-films-in-summer-2020/.145614|url-status=live}}</ref> the films, titled ''[[Rurouni Kenshin: The Final]]'' and ''[[Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning]]'', premiered in 2021.<ref>{{cite web|last=Pineda|first=Rafael|title=Rurouni Kenshin Saishūshō The Final Film Earns 4 Billion Yen|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-07-03/rurouni-kenshin-saishusho-the-final-film-earns-4-billion-yen/.174595|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=September 17, 2024|date=July 3, 2021|archive-date=September 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918013806/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-07-03/rurouni-kenshin-saishusho-the-final-film-earns-4-billion-yen/.174595|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Stage shows ===
In 2016, the [[Takarazuka Revue]] performed a musical adaptation of the manga called ''Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story''. The show ran from February to March and starred Seina Sagiri as Kenshin and Miyu Sakihi as Kaoru.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/the-kenshin-musical-cast-looks-perfect-in-costume-1737997348|title=The Kenshin Musical Cast Looks Perfect in Costume|date=23 October 2015|access-date=2016-07-15|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160722174648/http://kotaku.com/the-kenshin-musical-cast-looks-perfect-in-costume-1737997348|archive-date=2016-07-22}}</ref> The musical was written and directed by Shūichirō Koike.

In 2018, a stage play adaptation was performed in the Shinbashi Enbujō theater in Tokyo and Shōchikuza theater in Osaka. Seina Sagiri returned to play Kenshin, while [[Moka Kamishiraishi]] played Kaoru. Kanō Sōzaburō, an original character introduced in the previous musical, made a return appearance, played by Mitsuru Matsuoka. Shūichirō Koike returned as the director and the script writer of the play.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rurouni Kenshin Gets New Stage Play in October|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-05-16/rurouni-kenshin-gets-new-stage-play-in-october/.131614|access-date=2020-08-08|website=[[Anime News Network]]|language=en|archive-date=September 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230919161504/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-05-16/rurouni-kenshin-gets-new-stage-play-in-october/.131614|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2020, a stage musical adaptation of the manga's Kyoto arc was scheduled to be held from November to December 2020 at IHI Stage Around Tokyo. Starring Teppei Koike as Himura Kenshin and Mario Kuroba as the antagonist Makoto Shishio, Shūichirō Koike returned as director and script writer of the play.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rurouni Kenshin Manga's Kyoto Arc Gets Stage Musical This Fall Starring Teppei Koike|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-03-12/rurouni-kenshin-manga-kyoto-arc-gets-stage-musical-this-fall-starring-teppei-koike/.157442|access-date=2020-08-11|website=[[Anime News Network]]|language=en|archive-date=August 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200828184831/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-03-12/rurouni-kenshin-manga-kyoto-arc-gets-stage-musical-this-fall-starring-teppei-koike/.157442|url-status=live}}</ref> This stage musical was cancelled due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=New Rurouni Kenshin Stage Musical Canceled Due to COVID-19|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-08-28/new-rurouni-kenshin-stage-musical-canceled-due-to-covid-19/.163396|access-date=2020-09-01|website=[[Anime News Network]]|language=en|archive-date=August 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200828190011/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-08-28/new-rurouni-kenshin-stage-musical-canceled-due-to-covid-19/.163396|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Art and guidebooks ===
Two [[encyclopedia]]s of the ''Rurouni Kenshin'' manga were released; the first one, {{Nihongo4|''Rurouni Kenshin Profiles''|原典}}, was released first in Japan on July 4, 1996, by Shueisha and in the United States by Viz Media on November 1, 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=4-08-858882-7|script-title=ja:原典・るろうに剣心―明治剣客浪漫譚―「剣心秘伝」|language=ja|publisher=[[Shueisha]]|access-date=May 20, 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090602164020/http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=4-08-858882-7|archive-date=June 2, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Rurouni Kenshin Profiles (Rurouni Kenshin) (Paperback)
|isbn=1421501600|last1=Watsuki|first1=Nobuhiro|date=November 2005|publisher=VIZ Media LLC}}</ref> {{Nihongo4|''Kenshin Kaden''|剣心華伝}}, released on December 15, 1999, includes the story {{Nihongo4|''Haru no Sakura''|春の桜||{{lit}}"Cherry Blossoms in Spring"}}, which details the fates of all of the ''Rurouni Kenshin'' characters. The story takes place years after the manga's conclusion, when Kenshin and Kaoru have married and have a young son, Kenji. Many of the series' major characters who have befriended Kenshin reunite with him or otherwise reveal their current whereabouts at a spring picnic.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=4-08-782758-5&mode=1|script-title=ja:全史・るろうに剣心 ―明治剣客浪漫譚― 剣心華伝|language=ja|publisher=[[Shueisha]]|access-date=May 20, 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090803175616/http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=4-08-782758-5&mode=1|archive-date=August 3, 2009}}</ref> For the anime, three ''Kenshin Soushi'' artbooks were published from 1997 to 1998. While the first two were based on the TV series, the third one was based on the film. The film one was named ''Ishin Shishi no Requiem Art Book'' and was released along with the movie.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=978-4-08-874195-6&mode=1|script-title=ja:るろうに剣心・剣心草紙―電影画帖―アニメコレクション1|language=ja|publisher=[[Shueisha]]|access-date=June 6, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090822111232/http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=978-4-08-874195-6&mode=1|archive-date=August 22, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=4-08-782020-3&mode=1|script-title=ja:るろうに剣心・剣心草紙―電影画帖―アニメコレクション3|language=ja|publisher=[[Shueisha]]|access-date=June 6, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090803174334/http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=4-08-782020-3&mode=1|archive-date=August 3, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=4-08-782019-X|script-title=ja:るろうに剣心・剣心草紙―電影画帖―アニメコレクション2|language=ja|publisher=[[Shueisha]]|access-date=June 6, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090803182053/http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=4-08-782019-X|archive-date=August 3, 2009}}</ref> Also released was the ''Rurouni-Art Book'', which contained images from the OVAs. A guidebook from the {{Transliteration|ja|kanzenban}} imprint of the series was published on June 4, 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=978-4-08-874195-6&mode=1|script-title=ja:るろうに剣心 完全版 ガイドブック 剣心皆伝|language=ja|publisher=[[Shueisha]]|access-date=June 6, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090822111232/http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=978-4-08-874195-6&mode=1|archive-date=August 22, 2009}}</ref>

=== Light novels ===
The ''Rurouni Kenshin'' [[light novel]]s were published by Shueisha's Jump J-Books line and co-written by Kaoru Shizuka. Most of them are original stories that were later adapted into the anime. Others are adaptations of manga and anime stories. The very first novel, ''Rurouni Kenshin: Voyage to the Moon World'', which was published in Japan on October 10, 1996, and in North America on October 17, 2006, details another adventure involving the return of Tales of the Meiji Season 3's Beni-Aoi Arc characters like Kaishu Katsu and the Kamiya Dojo's third pupil, Daigoro.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.viz.com/products/products.php?product_id=5865|title=Viz Media - Products: Rurouni Kenshin: Voyage to the Moon World (Novel)|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|access-date=May 17, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110912182238/http://www.viz.com/products/products.php?product_id=5865|archive-date=September 12, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=4-08-703051-2&mode=1|script-title=ja:るろうに剣心1～明治剣客浪漫譚～|language=ja|publisher=[[Shueisha]]|access-date=April 30, 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081224190314/http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=4-08-703051-2&mode=1|archive-date=December 24, 2008}}</ref> The second, ''Yahiko's Battle'', was released on October 3, 1997. It retells various stories featured in the manga and anime series.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=4-08-703063-6&mode=1|script-title=ja:るろうに剣心 2 〜明治剣客浪漫譚〜|language=ja|publisher=[[Shueisha]]|access-date=April 30, 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081224191059/http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=4-08-703063-6&mode=1|archive-date=December 24, 2008}}</ref> The third novel, ''TV Anime Shimabara Arc'', was published on February 4, 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=4-08-703077-6&mode=1|script-title=ja:るろうに剣心～明治剣客浪漫譚～島原編 ルロウニケンシン|language=ja|publisher=[[Shueisha]]|access-date=April 30, 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081224191107/http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=4-08-703077-6&mode=1|archive-date=December 24, 2008}}</ref> A novel adaptation of ''Rurouni Kenshin Cinema-ban'', titled {{Nihongo|''Rurouni Kenshin -Ginmaku Sōshihen-''|るろうに剣心 ―銀幕草紙変―}} and written by Watsuki's wife Kaoru Kurosaki, which was released on September 4, 2012, is a Japanese light novel version of America's Restoration's New Kurogasa (Jin-E) Arc manga featuring Banshin and a different younger Gein. Both are Ishin members of Enishi's team in the Jinchu/Tenchu (Judgment of Earth/Heaven) portions of the Enishi saga in the main plot manga series.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=978-4-08-703273-4&mode=1|script-title=ja:るろうに剣心 ―銀幕草紙変―|publisher=[[Shueisha]]|language=ja|access-date=November 19, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024093311/http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=978-4-08-703273-4&mode=1|archive-date=October 24, 2012}}</ref>

=== Video games ===
There have been five ''Rurouni Kenshin'' video games released for the [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] series of consoles. The first, {{Nihongo4|''Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan: Ishin Gekitōhen''|るろうに剣心 -明治剣客浪漫譚- 維新激闘編}}, was released on November 29, 1996. It was developed by [[ZOOM Inc.]] and published by [[Sony Computer Entertainment]]. The game is a 3D fighting game with nine playable characters, with the plot being based on the first seven volumes of the manga.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rurouni Kenshin: Ishin Gekitouhen|url=http://www.gamespot.com/ps/action/rurounikenshinishing/index.html?tag=result;title;0|website=[[GameSpot]]|access-date=May 24, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511182008/http://www.gamespot.com/ps/action/rurounikenshinishing/index.html?tag=result%3Btitle%3B0|archive-date=May 11, 2011}}</ref> The second one, {{Nihongo4|''Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan: Jūyūshi Inbō Hen''|るろうに剣心 -明治剣客浪漫譚- 十勇士陰謀編 - The Ten Warrior Conspiracy}}, was released on December 18, 1997, and was re-released in the PlayStation The Best lineup on November 5, 1998. The game is a [[role-playing video game]] with an original story unrelated to either the manga or anime.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenyaku Romantan: Juuyuushi Inbou Hen|url=http://www.gamespot.com/ps/rpg/rurounikenshinmeijikrjih/index.html?tag=result;title;2|website=[[GameSpot]]|access-date=May 24, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511181958/http://www.gamespot.com/ps/rpg/rurounikenshinmeijikrjih/index.html?tag=result%3Btitle%3B2|archive-date=May 11, 2011}}</ref>

{{Nihongo4|''Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan: Enjō! Kyōto Rinne''|るろうに剣心 -明治剣客浪漫譚- 炎上!京都輪廻}} is the only video game for the [[PlayStation 2]] console. Its Japanese release was slated for September 13, 2006.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rurouni Kenshin: Enjou! Kyoto Rinne|url=http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/action/rurounikenshinenjoukyotorinne/index.html?tag=result;title;1|website=[[GameSpot]]|access-date=May 24, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511182002/http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/action/rurounikenshinenjoukyotorinne/index.html?tag=result%3Btitle%3B1|archive-date=May 11, 2011}}</ref> The game has sold over 130,000 copies in Japan.<ref name="Game sales">{{cite web|url=http://www.jeuxactu.com/article-25052-charts-japon-le-top-500-de-2006.html|title=Charts Japon : le Top 500 de 2006|access-date=October 19, 2008|publisher=Jeuxactu|date=August 29, 2006|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080113223926/http://www.jeuxactu.com/article-25052-charts-japon-le-top-500-de-2006.html|archive-date=January 13, 2008}}</ref> The game was developed by [[Eighting]] and published by [[Banpresto]]. A 2D fighting game titled {{Nihongo4|''Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan: Saisen''|るろうに剣心 -明治剣客浪漫譚- 再閃}} was released for the [[PlayStation Portable]] on March 10, 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2010-11-02/rurouni-kenshin-gets-psp-2d-fighting-game-in-spring|title=Rurouni Kenshin Gets PSP 2D Fighting Game in Spring (Update 2)|access-date=November 13, 2010|work=[[Anime News Network]]|date=November 2, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101105190807/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2010-11-02/rurouni-kenshin-gets-psp-2d-fighting-game-in-spring|archive-date=November 5, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jp.playstation.com/software/title/uljs00360.html|script-title=ja:るろうに剣心-明治剣客浪漫譚- 再閃|publisher=jp.playstation.com|access-date=November 26, 2014|language=ja|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701054727/http://www.jp.playstation.com/software/title/uljs00360.html|archive-date=July 1, 2014}}</ref> On August 30, 2012, a sequel, {{Nihongo|''Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan: Kansei''|るろうに剣心 -明治剣客浪漫譚- 完醒}}, was released.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jp.playstation.com/software/title/uljs00529.html|script-title=ja:るろうに剣心 -明治剣客浪漫譚- 完醒|publisher=jp.playstation.com|access-date=November 26, 2014|language=ja|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712014114/http://www.jp.playstation.com/software/title/uljs00529.html|archive-date=July 12, 2015}}</ref> Both games were developed by [[Natsume Co., Ltd.]] and published by [[Bandai Namco Games]].

[[Himura Kenshin]] also appears in the 2005 and 2006 [[Nintendo DS]] games ''[[Jump Super Stars]]'' and ''[[Jump Ultimate Stars]]'' as the sole battle character representing his series, while others are support characters and help characters.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jump Ultimate Stars|url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ds/ajuj/character/chara_38.html|publisher=[[Nintendo]]|language=ja|access-date=November 22, 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080122152233/http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ds/ajuj/character/chara_38.html|archive-date=January 22, 2008}}</ref> Kenshin and Shishio appeared as playable characters in the 2014 [[PlayStation 3]] and [[PlayStation Vita]] game ''[[J-Stars Victory VS]]''<ref>{{cite news|title=Bleach, Kenshin Join J-Stars Victory Vs. Team Battle Game|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2013-06-05/bleach-kenshin-join-j-stars-victory-vs-team-battle-game|work=[[Anime News Network]]|date=June 5, 2013|access-date=August 7, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130812131048/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2013-06-05/bleach-kenshin-join-j-stars-victory-vs-team-battle-game|archive-date=August 12, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Naruto/DBZ/One Piece/Kenshin Rivals Join J-Stars Victory Vs. Game|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-01-15/naruto/dbz/one-piece/kenshin-rivals-join-j-stars-victory-vs-game|work=[[Anime News Network]]|date=January 15, 2014|access-date=January 15, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116083024/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-01-15/naruto/dbz/one-piece/kenshin-rivals-join-j-stars-victory-vs-game|archive-date=January 16, 2014}}</ref> and in the 2019 game ''[[Jump Force]]'' for [[Windows]], [[PlayStation 4]], and [[Xbox One]].<ref name=Kenshin>{{cite web|last=Hodgkins|first=Crystalyn|title=Jump Force Game Adds Rurouni Kenshin's Kenshin Himura, Makoto Shishio as Playable Characters|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-11-18/jump-force-game-adds-rurouni-kenshin-kenshin-himura-makoto-shishio-as-playable-characters/.139635|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=18 November 2018|date=18 November 2018|archive-date=November 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119010845/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-11-18/jump-force-game-adds-rurouni-kenshin-kenshin-himura-makoto-shishio-as-playable-characters/.139635|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Audio dramas ===
Several [[drama CD]]s that adapt stories from the ''Rurouni Kenshin'' manga were released. They feature different voice actors than those that later worked on the anime adaptation.<ref>{{cite book|title=Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 2|last=Watsuki|first=Nobuhiro|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|chapter=Free Talk|date=19 November 2003|page=[https://archive.org/details/rurounikenshinme00wats_1/page/77 77]|isbn=1-59116-249-1|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/rurounikenshinme00wats_1/page/77}}</ref> In Volume 5 of the manga, Watsuki stated that he was anticipating the third installment, which would adapt the [[Udō Jin-e]] arc. He expected it to be "pretty close" to his original, but with additional lines for Sanosuke and Yahiko.<ref>{{cite book|title=Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 5|last=Watsuki|first=Nobuhiro|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|year=2004|isbn=978-1-59116-320-6|page=[https://archive.org/details/rurounikenshinvo00nobu_0/page/15 15]|url=https://archive.org/details/rurounikenshinvo00nobu_0/page/15}}</ref>

=== Merchandise ===
Watsuki commented that there had been a lot of ''Rurouni Kenshin'' merchandise released for the Japanese market. He recommended that buyers consider quality before paying for merchandise items and that they consult their wallets and buy stuff that they feel is "worth it". Watsuki added that he liked the prototype for a stuffed Kenshin doll for the [[UFO catcher]] devices.<ref>{{cite book|title=Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 11|last=Watsuki|first=Nobuhiro|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|page=51|year=2005|isbn=978-1-59116-709-9}}</ref>

== Reception ==
=== Sales and popularity ===
''Rurouni Kenshin'' has been highly popular, having sold over 55 million copies in Japan alone up until February 2012, making it one of Shueisha's top ten best-selling manga series.<ref name="55mil">{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-10-23/top-10-shonen-jump-manga-by-all-time-volume-sales|title=Top 10 Shonen Jump Manga by All-Time Volume Sales|work=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=2012-12-20|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008192850/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-10-23/top-10-shonen-jump-manga-by-all-time-volume-sales|archive-date=2016-10-08}}</ref> In 2014, it was reported that the series had 70 million {{Transliteration|ja|tankōbon}} copies in circulation.<ref name="70mil">{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2014-05-01/top-20-most-popular-manga-ranked-by-publication-numbers|title=Top 20 Most Popular Manga Ranked By Publication Numbers|work=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=2014-09-04|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906142233/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2014-05-01/top-20-most-popular-manga-ranked-by-publication-numbers|archive-date=2014-09-06}}</ref> By December 2019, the manga had over 72 million copies in circulation, including digital releases.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:るろうに剣心：初の展覧会が2020年4月開催 作品誕生から25周年|url=https://mantan-web.jp/article/20191203dog00m200049000c.html|website=Mantan Web|access-date=February 8, 2020|language=ja|date=December 4, 2019|archive-date=December 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204134054/https://mantan-web.jp/article/20191203dog00m200049000c.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Volume 27 of the manga ranked second in the ''Viz Bookscan Top Ten'' during June 2006,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-12-08/viz-takes-ownership-of-top-10-manga|title=Viz Sweeps Bookscan Top Ten|work=[[Anime News Network]]|date=June 5, 2006|access-date=February 13, 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080102074715/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-12-08/viz-takes-ownership-of-top-10-manga|archive-date=January 2, 2008}}</ref> while volumes 21 and 20 ranked second and tenth, respectively, in the ''Top 10 Graphic Novels of Viz'' of 2005.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-12-08/viz-takes-ownership-of-top-10-manga|title=Viz Takes Ownership of top 10 Manga|work=[[Anime News Network]]|date=December 8, 2005|access-date=February 13, 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080102074715/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-12-08/viz-takes-ownership-of-top-10-manga|archive-date=January 2, 2008}}</ref> ''Rurouni Kenshin'' volume 24 ranked 116th on ''[[USA Today]]''{{'}}s best-selling book list for the week ending February 26, 2006.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2006-03-03/viz-scores-highest-ever-sales-ranking-for-a-manga-in-booklist|title=Viz Scores Highest Ever Sales Ranking for a Manga in Booklist|work=[[Anime News Network]]|date=December 8, 2005|access-date=March 3, 2006|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070202072612/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2006-03-03/viz-scores-highest-ever-sales-ranking-for-a-manga-in-booklist|archive-date=February 2, 2007}}</ref> During the third quarter of 2003, ''Rurouni Kenshin'' ranked at the top of [[ICv2]]'s Top 50 Manga Properties.<ref>{{cite web|access-date =January 26, 2005|publisher =ICv2|date =October 18, 2004|title =Manga Competition Heats Up|url =http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/5869.html|url-status =live|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20050210014752/http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/5869.html|archive-date =February 10, 2005}}</ref> In the same poll from 2005, it was featured at the top once again based on sales from English volumes during 2004.<ref>{{cite web|access-date =January 26, 2005|publisher =ICv2|date =July 12, 2006|title =Manga Market Continues Robust Growth in '04|url =http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/6340.html|url-status =live|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20050129022113/http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/6340.html|archive-date =January 29, 2005}}</ref> In the Top Ten Manga Properties from 2006 from the same site, it ranked ninth.<ref>{{cite web|access-date =August 6, 2009|publisher =ICv2|date =July 12, 2006|title =ICv2's Ten Most Powerful|url =http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/8964.html|url-status =live|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20090630132159/http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/8964.html|archive-date =June 30, 2009}}</ref> In November 2014, readers of ''[[Da Vinci (magazine)|Da Vinci]]'' magazine voted ''Rurouni Kenshin'' as the thirteenth ''Weekly Shōnen Jump''{{'}}s greatest manga series of all time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2014/11/13-1/da-vinci-magazine-asks-japanese-readers-to-name-greatest-shonen-jump-manga|title="Da Vinci" Magazine Asks Japanese Readers to Name Greatest "Shonen Jump" Manga|website=[[Crunchyroll]]|date=2014-11-13|access-date=2022-08-06|archive-date=October 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010182152/http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2014/11/13-1/da-vinci-magazine-asks-japanese-readers-to-name-greatest-shonen-jump-manga|url-status=live}}</ref> On [[TV Asahi]]'s Manga Sōsenkyo 2021 poll, in which 150,000 people voted for their top 100 manga series, ''Rurouni Kenshin'' ranked 31st.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:テレビ朝日『国民15万人がガチで投票!漫画総選挙』ランキング結果まとめ！ 栄えある1位に輝く漫画は!?|url=https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1609599746&p=2|website=animate Times|publisher=[[Animate (retailer)|Animate]]|access-date=January 3, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210103111919/https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1609599746&p=2|archive-date=January 3, 2021|language=ja|date=January 3, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Critical response ===
The manga has received praise and criticism from various publications. Mania Entertainment writer Megan Lavey found that the manga had a good balance between character development, comedy, and action scenes. Watsuki's artwork was said to have improved as the series continued, noting that characters also had reactions during fights.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/rurouni-kenshin-gn-18|title=Rurouni Kenshin G.novel 18|author=Lavey, Megan|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|date=December 18, 2004|access-date=May 27, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090426145237/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/rurouni-kenshin-gn-18|archive-date=April 26, 2009}}</ref><ref name="mania7"/> Steve Raiteri from [[Library Journal]] praised the series for its characters and battles. However, he noted that some fights were too violent, so he recommended the series to older teenagers as well as adults.<ref>{{Cite journal|author=Raiteri, Steve|title=Watsuki, Nobuhiro. Rurouni Kenshin, Vol. 1|journal=[[Library Journal]]|date=2004-03-01|publisher=Library Journals, LLC|volume=129|issue=4|pages=63(1)|issn=0363-0277}}</ref> Surat described the series as an example of a "neo-shōnen" series, where a shōnen series also appeals to a female audience; Surat stated that in such series, character designs are "pretty" for female audiences but not too "girly" for male audiences. Surat cited [[Shinomori Aoshi]] and [[Seta Sōjirō]], characters who ranked highly in popularity polls even though, in Surat's view, Aoshi does not engage in "meaningful" battles and Sōjirō is a "kid". Surat explained that Aoshi appears "like a [[Clamp (manga artists)|Clamp]] character wearing [[Gambit (Marvel Comics)|Gambit]]'s coat and Sōjirō always smiles despite the abuse inflicted upon him.<ref name="Surat34">Surat, Daryl. "Heart of Steel." ''[[Otaku USA]]''. Volume 4, Number 1. August 2010. 34.</ref> Surat said that the character designs for the anime television series were "toughened up a bit". He added that the budget for animation and music was "top-notch" because Sony produced the budget.<ref name="Surat3436">Surat, Daryl. "Heart of Steel." ''[[Otaku USA]]''. Volume 4, Number 1. August 2010. 34–36.</ref> Watsuki's writing involving romance and Kenshin's psychological hidden weakpoints also earned positive responses from other sites, with [[AnimeNation]] also comparing it to Clamp's ''[[X (manga)|X]]'' based on the multiple elements of the series.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://anime.about.com/od/animeprimer/tp/aa100303.htm|title=Top 8 Anime Love Stories|access-date=June 26, 2009|author=Luther, Katherine|publisher=[[About.com]]|archive-date=March 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307145429/http://anime.about.com/od/animeprimer/tp/aa100303.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="askjohn1543">{{cite web|url=http://www.animenation.net/blog/2007/04/23/ask-john-should-there-be-more-variety-in-shonen-shoujo-anime/|title=Ask John: Should There Be More Variety in Shōnen & Shōjo Anime?|date=April 23, 2007|access-date=2007-07-01|publisher=[[AnimeNation]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927113540/http://www.animenation.net/blog/2007/04/23/ask-john-should-there-be-more-variety-in-shonen-shoujo-anime/|archive-date=September 27, 2011}}</ref> In general, Mania found Watsuki's art appealing as well as its evolution across the twenty-eight volumes, as it made female characters more attractive while the male characters seemed simpler while retaining the early handsome looks.<ref name="art"/>

As a result of the series taking a darker tone in later story arcs with Kenshin facing new threats and at the same time his ''Battosai'' self, Kat Kan from ''[[Voice of Youth Advocates]]'' recommended it to older teens. Kan also found that anime viewers will also enjoy Watsuki's drawings due to the way he illustrates battles.<ref>{{Cite journal|author=Kan, Kat|title=Samurai with a weird sword|journal=Voice of Youth Advocates|date=2004-06-01|publisher=E L Kurdyla Publishing LLC|volume=27|issue=2|pages=118(2)|issn=0160-4201}}</ref> This is mostly noted in the "Kyoto arc", where Mania Entertainment writer Megan Lavey applauded the fight between Himura Kenshin and anti-hero Saito Hajime, which acts as the prologue of such a narrative.<ref name="mania7">{{cite web|url=http://www.mania.com/rurouni-kenshin-vol-07_article_81868.html|title=Rurouni Kenshin Vol. #07|date=2004-10-27|access-date=2012-04-15|work=Mania Entertainment|first=Megan|last=Lavey|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150220010405/http://www.mania.com/rurouni-kenshin-vol-07_article_81868.html|archive-date=2015-02-20}}</ref> Mania remarks on the buildup Aoshi, Saito, and other characters bring to the story due to how they share similar goals in the same arc, with newcomer Misao helping to balance the style by bringing more comical interactions with the protagonist.<ref>{{cite web|first=Megan|last=Lavey|url=http://www.mania.com/rurouni-kenshin-vol08_article_81949.html|title=Rurouni Kenshin Vol. #08 of 28|access-date=February 11, 2008|publisher=Mania.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201112203/http://www.mania.com/rurouni-kenshin-vol08_article_81949.html|archive-date=February 1, 2009}}</ref> Although the site Manga News enjoyed Seta Sojiro's fight and how it connected with Shishio's past, they said the sixteenth manga's best part was Kenshin's fight against Shishio due to the buildup and symbolism the two characters have.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.manga-news.com/index.php/manga/critique/Kenshin-le-vagabond/vol-16|title=Kenshin le Vagabundo 16|website=Manga News|access-date=October 27, 2020|archive-date=October 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031013825/https://www.manga-news.com/index.php/manga/critique/Kenshin-le-vagabond/vol-16|url-status=live}}</ref> The eventual climax led to further praise based on how menacing Shishio is shown in the battle against his predecessor, although he questioned if Kenshin had been a superior enemy if he had kept back his original killer persona.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.manga-news.com/index.php/manga/Kenshin-le-vagabond/vol-17|title=Kenshin le Vagabundo 17|website=Manga News|access-date=October 27, 2020|archive-date=September 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230919161437/https://www.manga-news.com/index.php/manga/Kenshin-le-vagabond/vol-17|url-status=live}}</ref>

Critics expressed mixed opinions in regards to the final arc. Zac Bertschy from [[Anime News Network]] (ANN) praised the story from the manga but noted that by volume 18 of the series, Watsuki started to repeat the same type of villains who were united to kill Kenshin, similar to ''[[Trigun]]''. Although he praised Watsuki's characters, he commented that some of them needed some consistency due to various "bizarre" antagonists.<ref name="enishiarc">{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/rurouni-kenshin-gn-18|title=Rurouni Kenshin G.novel 18|author=Bertschy, Zac|work=[[Anime News Network]]|date=October 2, 2005|access-date=May 26, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090426145237/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/rurouni-kenshin-gn-18|archive-date=April 26, 2009}}</ref> Due to Kaoru, Kenshin, and Sanosuke missing from the final arc during the Jinchu arc, Manga News described Aoshi as the star of the series' 24th volume due to how he explores the mysteries behind Enishi's revenge and his subsequent actions that made him stand out, most notably because he had been absent for multiple chapters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.manga-news.com/index.php/manga/critique/Kenshin-le-vagabond/vol-24|title=Critique du volume manga|website=Manga News|access-date=October 28, 2020|archive-date=September 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230919161437/https://www.manga-news.com/index.php/manga/critique/Kenshin-le-vagabond/vol-24|url-status=live}}</ref> [[IGN]] reviewer A.E. Sparrow liked the manga's ending, praising how the storylines are resolved and how most of the supporting cast ends up. He also praised the series' characters, remarking that Kenshin "belongs in any top ten of manga heroes."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://comics.ign.com/articles/715/715214p1.html|title=Rurouni Kenshin Vol. 28 Review|author=Sparrow, A.E.|website=[[IGN]]|date=June 27, 2006|access-date=May 26, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227121637/http://comics.ign.com/articles/715/715214p1.html|archive-date=February 27, 2009}}</ref> ''[[Otaku USA]]'' reviewer Daryl Surat said that the manga's quality was good until the "Revenge Arc", where he criticized the storyline and the new characters.<ref name="Surat37">Surat, Daryl. "Heart of Steel." ''[[Otaku USA]]''. Volume 4, Number 1. August 2010. 37.</ref> Carlo Santos from the same site praised Enishi and Kenshin's final fight despite finding the ending predictable.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/right-turn-only/2006-06-27|title=RIGHT TURN ONLY!! Bye Bye Mr. Battousai|date=October 2, 2005|access-date=October 26, 2020|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|author=Santos, Carlo|archive-date=August 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828015721/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/right-turn-only/2006-06-27|url-status=live}}</ref> While also liking their final showdown, Megan Lavey from Mania Entertainment felt that the twist that happens shortly after the battle is over serves to show Enishi's long-life trauma and, at the same time, Kenshin's compassion towards others.<ref name="art">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090528091334/http://www.mania.com/rurouni-kenshin-vol-28_article_82756.html|archive-date=May 28, 2009|url=http://www.mania.com/rurouni-kenshin-vol-28_article_82756.html|title=Rurouni Kenshin Vol. #28|author=Lavey, Megan|access-date=October 26, 2020}}</ref>

In ''Bringing Forth a World: Engaged Pedagogy in the Japanese University''{{'}}s seventh chapter, "The Renegotiation of Modernity", by [[media studies]] professor Maria Grajdian, Kenshin's heroic nature as a wanderer was compared to both [[Luke Skywalker]] and [[Harry Potter (character)|Harry Potter]] due to how he wishes to protect the weak people, seeing nothing wrong with such trait. This is heavily explored in the series when confronting the young Seta who had opposite values in terms how should the strong men act. This soft masculinity is exemplified as a result. There is also a balance between Kenshin's supernatural strength and small design, led a major impact in the audience due to how likable the protagonist is. His introduction marks his values with the sword which also affected Kaoru, Yahiko's and Sanosuke's values upon their meetings. In doing so, ''Rurouni Kenshin'' laid" more than twenty years ago the foundation of a fresh paradigm of humanity based on tenderness and mutual acceptance as a counter-movement to the individualism, competition and efficiency that characterize the project of modernity".<ref>{{cite book|title=Bringing Forth a World: Engaged Pedagogy in the Japanese University|ref=none|no-tracking=yes<!-- prevents error categorization -->|last=Grajdian|first=Maria|date=December 30, 2019|editor-last1=Joff P.N.|editor-first1=Bradley|editor-last2=Kennedy|editor-first2=David|chapter=The Renegotiation of Modernity|chapter-url=https://brill.com/display/book/edcoll/9789004421783/BP000016.xml|publisher=[[Brill Publishers]]|pages=103–122|doi=10.1163/9789004421783_007|access-date=|isbn=978-90-04-42178-3|s2cid=213267053|archive-date=September 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918013823/https://brill.com/display/book/edcoll/9789004421783/BP000016.xml|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Cultural impact ==
Before becoming an official manga author, ''[[Naruto]]''{{'}}s author, [[Masashi Kishimoto]], decided that he should try creating a {{Transliteration|ja|[[chanbara]]}} manga since ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' had not published a title from that genre. However, during his years of college, Kishimoto started reading [[Hiroaki Samura]]'s ''[[Blade of the Immortal]]'' and ''Rurouni Kenshin'', which used the said genre. Kishimoto recalls having never been surprised by manga ever since reading ''[[Akira (manga)|Akira]]'' and finding that he was still not able to compete against them.<ref>{{cite book|last=Kishimoto|first=Masashi|title=Naruto, Volume 13|year=2007|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|isbn=978-1-4215-1087-3|page=66|chapter=The World of Kishimoto Masashi: My Personal History, Part 17|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781421510873/page/66/mode/2up}}</ref> [[Hideaki Sorachi]] cited ''Rurouni Kenshin'' as a major source of inspiration for his manga series, ''[[Gintama]]''. He also said numerous other historical manga were influenced by ''Rurouni Kenshin'', stating that the "reason why historical stories are being dealt with in all sorts of manga and game media today, and why they are being supported by the younger generation, is undoubtedly because of "''Ruroken''" and that they "are all children of the "''Ruroken''" bloodline."<ref>{{cite tweet|author=Rurouni Kenshin Exhibition [Official]|user=ruroken_ten|number=1353629179665907712|script-title=ja:✘ #るろ剣展 15作家の「祝辞」紹介③！✘#MrFULLSWING の作者 #鈴木信也 先生、 #銀魂 の #空知英秋 先生、 #SHAMANKING の #武井宏之 先生、 そして #トライガン #血界戦線 の #内藤泰弘 先生！あのるろ剣の #夷腕坊 の麦わらマークの爆弾を描いたのがこの先生だったとは…！驚きです。|date=January 25, 2021|language=ja|quote=The reason why historical stories are being dealt with in all sorts of manga and game media today, and why they are being supported by the younger generation, is undoubtedly because of the work "Ruroken". As usual, I was one of the radish thieves, or rather, a senior member of the thieves, who trespassed into the fields cultivated by Mr. Watsuki without permission and sold radishes. (...) We are all children of the "Ruroken" bloodline, so please don't sue us or anything like that.}}</ref>

For the series 25th anniversary in January 2021, 15 manga authors sent congratulatory messages: three of Watsuki's former assistants, [[Eiichiro Oda]] (''[[One Piece]]''), [[Hiroyuki Takei]] (''[[Shaman King]]''), and Shinya Suzuki (''[[Mr. Fullswing]]''); [[Nobuyuki Anzai]] (''[[Flame of Recca]]''); [[Riichiro Inagaki]] (''[[Eyeshield 21]]''); [[Takeshi Obata]] (''[[Death Note]]''); Masashi Kishimoto (''Naruto''); [[Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro]] (''[[Toriko]]''); Hideaki Sorachi (''Gintama''); [[Yasuhiro Nightow]] (''[[Trigun]]''); [[Kazuhiro Fujita]] (''[[Ushio & Tora]]''); [[Yūsei Matsui]] (''[[Assassination Classroom]]''); and [[Kentaro Yabuki]] (''[[Black Cat (manga)|Black Cat]]'').<ref>{{cite tweet|author=Rurouni Kenshin Exhibition [Official]|user=ruroken_ten|number=1353621126891491329|script-title=ja:✘ #るろ剣展 15作家の「祝辞」紹介！✘るろ剣展開催にあたり、和月先生と関わりの深い15人の先生から展覧会への「祝辞」をいただき、渋谷駅で掲出しました！（※掲出は終了しています）その貴重な先生方のコメントをご紹介！るろ剣展は東京ドームシティ・ギャラリーアーモで3月7日まで開催中！|date=January 25, 2021|language=ja}}</ref> In an interview for the event, Oda told Watsuki that ''Rurouni Kenshin'' is popular due to his loyalty to his fans.<ref>{{cite book|author=Watsuki, Nobuhiro|publisher=Shueisha|script-title=ja:るろうに剣心展 公式図録 るろ剣 25周年記念|title=Rurouni Kenshin Exhibition Official Catalog – Ruroken 25th Anniversary|year=2021}}</ref> ''[[Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba]]''{{'}}s protagonist, [[Tanjiro Kamado]], was influenced by Kenshin's design, as the author combined the character's androgynous design with a scar similar to Kenshin's in order to balance it properly for the audience.<ref name="creation">{{cite web|url=https://mangaplus.shueisha.co.jp/web_pages/234/|title=The birth of "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba"|publisher=Shueisha|website=Manga Plus|access-date=February 16, 2020|archive-date=February 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200211192748/https://mangaplus.shueisha.co.jp/web_pages/234/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Watsuki felt that Kenshin was a "King Type" character similar to [[Monkey D. Luffy]] from [[Eiichiro Oda]]'s ''[[One Piece]]'' as a result of how heroic they are. Watsuki also reflected on Kenshin's pacifism, which became a common trend among other heroes in ''Weekly Shonen Jump'', like Luffy and [[Naruto Uzumaki]], who fight but are against the idea of killing their enemies, while in the case of ''[[Dragon Ball]],'' dead characters are often revived. He believes newer series like ''[[Attack on Titan]]'', ''[[Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba]],'' and ''Jujutsu Kaisen'' explore more of the concept of death. Nevertheless, Watsuki continued to depict Kenshin sparing his enemies in the ''Hokkaido Arc''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kai-you.net/article/80090/page/2|script-title=ja:和月伸宏インタビュー 『るろうに剣心 最終章』に至る、実写と漫画が歩んだ10年|website=Kai You|date=April 23, 2021|access-date=December 8, 2022|archive-date=August 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810051837/https://kai-you.net/article/80090/page/2|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== Further reading ==
* {{Cite journal|title=Rurouni Kenshin, vol. 1|journal=[[Voice of Youth Advocates]]|date=2006-12-01|publisher=E L Kurdyla Publishing LLC|volume=29|issue=5|page=399|issn=0160-4201}}
* {{Cite news|title=OPINION: Japanese fiction holds life lesson|journal=Quay County Sun (Tucumcari, NM)|date=2011-03-15|publisher=[[McClatchy-Tribune Information Services]]}}
* {{Cite journal|author=Dennys, Harriet|title=Big in Japan, America and now the UK: manga novels are moving from niche status into the UK mainstream.(GRAPHIC NOVELS: MANGA)|journal=[[The Bookseller]]|date=2005-11-11|publisher=The Nielsen Company|issue=5204|pages=S10(2)|issn=0006-7539}}
* {{Cite journal|title=Publications of the week.(book lists )|journal=The Bookseller|date=2005-04-08|publisher=The Nielsen Company|issue=5173|pages=39(13)|issn=0006-7539}}

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|https://www.j-rurouni.com/|''Rurouni Kenshin'' official manga website}} {{in lang|ja}}
* {{Official website|https://www.viz.com/rurouni-kenshin/|''Rurouni Kenshin''}} at [[Viz Media]]
* {{Anime News Network|manga|1995}}

{{Rurouni Kenshin}}
{{Nobuhiro Watsuki}}
{{Weekly Shōnen Jump - 1990–1999}}
{{Portal bar|Japan|Anime and manga|Film|Martial arts|1990s}}
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